A two-storey building under construction collapsed in Umuoma community, Umuoji, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Monday evening, causing panic among residents and passers-by.
The structure, which was being built to serve as a hotel, began caving in after loud cracking sounds were heard from the second floor. More than 20 workers were on site at the time, but all managed to escape before the building partially collapsed.
A resident, Uzor, said the workers were busy on different sections of the building when it suddenly started giving way around 5 p.m. “Nobody was trapped as they jumped down one after another,” he said. He added that the building was designed to be three storeys and had already started slanting dangerously in different directions.
Another resident, Amaka, blamed the collapse on hurried construction and the possible use of substandard materials. “How can you be putting blocks on top of the ones that have not dried during the rainy season? Most of the iron rods used today are inferior and not meant for storey buildings,” she said.
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Officials of the Anambra State Urban and Town Planning department visited the site on Tuesday, sealed off the premises, and cordoned it off with barriers and tape to prevent further danger. An official, who spoke anonymously, said investigations had begun to determine whether proper approvals and building standards were followed.
The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident but said details were still sketchy.
Building collapses remain a recurring problem in Nigeria, often linked to structural defects, poor materials, and weak enforcement of construction regulations. Authorities have repeatedly called for stricter compliance to prevent avoidable disasters.
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